Scholar Suggests Backstory for da Vinci’s Mother

Carlo Vecce, a professor at Orientale University in Naples and renowned scholar in the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci, will talk about his novel, “Il Sorriso di Caterina” (Caterina’s Smile), which recounts, through a combination of fact and imaginative fiction, the story of how Leonardo’s mother was kidnapped from the Caucasus area of Central Asia and moved to Florence, then Vinci, as a slave. Participants are encouraged to bring refreshments to share at a post-program reception.